Chapter 2 - THE NAME DALTON REMEMBEREDMajor Dalton could hear his own heartbeat.
He had seen the briefing packet that morning.
He had skimmed it between two meetings and a readiness report.
External command assessment.
Senior evaluation officer.
Twenty-two years of service.
Colonel Sophia Carter.
There had been a photograph.
He had barely looked at it.
Now he desperately wished he had.
“Ma’am,” Dalton said.
Vanessa did not turn.
“What?”
“Could I speak with you privately?”
“No.”
“I strongly recommend it.”
That finally earned him a look.
Vanessa’s eyes hardened.
“You’ve recommended enough.”
Sophia watched him.
She could see recognition fighting uncertainty inside his expression.
Vanessa turned back.
“Identification.”
Sophia did not move.
“Excuse me?”
“Show me your ID.”
“No.”
Vanessa laughed once.
“You’re refusing a direct order from a lieutenant colonel?”
“You are not in my chain of command.”
A strange silence followed.
Vanessa stared.
“How would you know that?”
Sophia’s answer was quiet.
“Because I know exactly where I belong.”
Dalton stood.
“Ma’am.”
Vanessa spun toward him.
“What is wrong with you?”
Dalton swallowed.
“Her name.”
Sophia remained motionless.
Vanessa frowned.
“What about it?”
“I saw it this morning.”
“Where?”
“The assessment briefing.”
Vanessa’s face changed.
Only for a fraction of a second.
Then she recovered.
“That evaluation starts tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Vanessa looked at Sophia.
Then at the closed jacket.
Then at the temporary badge.
She laughed.
But nobody else did.
“Colonel Carter wouldn’t be carrying cafeteria trays.”
Sophia tilted her head.
“Why not?”
The question landed harder than an accusation.
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
Before she could respond, the cafeteria doors opened.
Colonel James Reed entered carrying a folder beneath his arm.
He took two steps.
Stopped.
His eyes found Sophia immediately.
Then the spilled coffee.
Then Vanessa.
Confusion turned to concern.
“Colonel Carter?”
The entire cafeteria froze.
Vanessa did not breathe.
James walked closer.
“Sophia?”
Sophia nodded.
“James.”
Vanessa slowly looked toward Dalton.
He refused to meet her eyes.
Sophia reached for her jacket zipper.
The sound seemed impossibly loud.
She pulled it down.
Silver colonel insignia appeared beneath the fabric.
Vanessa’s face drained white.
James stared at the coffee.
“What happened?”
Sophia looked at Vanessa.
For the first time since the confrontation began, the arrogance was gone.
But Sophia knew something Vanessa did not.
The spilled coffee was no longer the biggest problem.
May you like
It had merely opened a door.
And tomorrow, Sophia intended to find out what was hiding behind it.
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